Understanding the space skills problem
This problem map explores why space companies struggle to hire
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Click a problem to learn more about it and see its causes
List of problems
Problem
Problem severity
Evidence strength
Space companies struggle to hire
It takes space companies a long time and a lot of effort to hire the skilled people that they need.
What evidence do we have?
The Space Sector Skills Survey 2023 found that 62% of space companies were looking to recruit and 80% of those experienced difficulties in recruiting.[1] It also found that the median time to hire is 10 weeks, rising to 24 weeks for the most difficult roles. Ref1: ["Space Skills Alliance", "Thiemann, H. & Dudley, J.", "2023", "Space Sector Skills Survey 2023 results", "https://spaceskills.org/space-sector-skills-survey#recruitment-difficulties", ""]
Space jobs don't receive enough applications
Space employers do not receive enough applications for their jobs.
What evidence do we have?
The Space Sector Skills Survey 2023 found that 67% of space employers struggling to recruit didn't get enough applicants for their open roles.[1] Ref1: ["Space Skills Alliance", "Thiemann, H. & Dudley, J.", "2023", "Space Sector Skills Survey 2023 results", "https://spaceskills.org/space-sector-skills-survey#recruitment-difficulties", ""]
There are skills gaps among job applicants
Applicants for space jobs lack the specialist skills, knowledge, or qualifications that employers need. These might be space-specific skills, or ones that are applicable across several sectors.
What evidence do we have?
The Space Sector Skills Survey 2023 found that 61% of organisations see skills gaps in job applicants, rising to 84% for large organisations, and that 76% of those recruiting found that applicants lacked the required specialist skills, knowledge, or qualifications (up from 73% in 2020). [1] Ref1: ["Space Skills Alliance", "Thiemann, H. & Dudley, J.", "2023", "Space Sector Skills Survey 2023 results", "https://spaceskills.org/space-sector-skills-survey#skill-gaps-in-job-applicants", ""]
Courses don't teach the skills industry needs
Training courses, including degrees, don't always teach the skills that the space industry needs. This means that employers must do additional training in-house, and can mean that courses have covered some content unnecessarily.
What evidence do we have?
The Space Sector Skills Survey 2023 found that of those who had skills gaps, 45% said that new staff did not have the right skills when they were hired, and 75% said that they were unable to recruit staff with the necessary skills.[1] Ref1: ["Space Skills Alliance", "Thiemann, H. & Dudley, J.", "2023", "Space Sector Skills Survey 2023 results", "https://spaceskills.org/space-sector-skills-survey#reasons-for-recruitment-difficulties", ""]
Employers and educators don't communicate
There is a lack of communication between industry and education providers about skills needs and demands.
What evidence do we have?
The Space Sector Skills Survey 2020 suggested that there was "a mismatch between what skills the industry needs and what skills the UK Higher Education system produces."[1] Anecdotal evidence from the Space Sector Skills Survey 2023 also suggests that this is a problem. Ref1: ["UK Space Agency", "BMG", "2021", "Space Sector Skills Survey 2020", "https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/964639/BMG_2081_UKSA_Space_Sector_Skills_Survey_2020_Report_V1.pdf", "p3"]
Job adverts are poorly written
Job adverts are often poorly written and fail to include key information such as salary, benefits, or details of the application process. They are also often written in a way which makes the company or role seem uninteresting.
What evidence do we have?
An assessment of 50 space job adverts against a range of best practices found that only 8% scored more than 75 out of 100.[1] Ref1: ["Space Skills Alliance", "Dudley, J. & Thiemann, H.", "2021", "Assessing the quality of space job adverts", "https://spaceskills.org/job-advert-quality", ""]
Lack of long term investment
A lack of long term investment means companies may be unwilling to invest in training and upskilling for the future. If companies are reliant on grant funding, they may be unable to provide long term contracts.
What evidence do we have?
At the moment we only have anecdotal evidence about this problem.
Lack of mid-level people
There is lack of mid-level space professionals with enough experience to lead on projects and tackle challenging technical problems.
What evidence do we have?
The Space Sector Skills Survey 2023 found that 60% of open space jobs are for mid-level roles,[1] and the Space Sector Skills Survey 2020 highlighted the lack of mid-level people.[2] In evidence to the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee, Professor Lucy Berthoud, Co-Chair of the Space Universities Network, said that despite growing numbers of students taking up undergraduate courses in space-related topics, the space sector had a shortage of people with 5+ years of experience.[3] Ref1: ["Space Skills Alliance", "Thiemann, H. & Dudley, J.", "2023", "Space Sector Skills Survey 2023 results", "https://spaceskills.org/space-sector-skills-survey#recruitment-by-seniority-level", ""] Ref2: ["UK Space Agency", "BMG", "2021", "Space Sector Skills Survey 2020", "https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/964639/BMG_2081_UKSA_Space_Sector_Skills_Survey_2020_Report_V1.pdf", "p54"] Ref3: ["House of Commons Science and Technology Committee", "Berthoud, L.", "2021", "Written Evidence Submitted by Professor Lucy Berthoud on behalf of members of the Space Universities Network and colleagues at the University of Bristol Aerospace Department", "https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/37747/pdf/", "p2"]
People don't feel welcome in the space sector
Certain groups are sometimes made to feel unwelcome and are discriminated against.
What evidence do we have?
The 2020 Space Census found that women and people of colour feel less welcome in the space sector than white men, experience more discrimination, and are underpaid and underpromoted.[1] A 2021 report from the Royal Astronomical Society found that bullying and harassment is systemic in astronomy and geophysics.[2] Ref1: ["Space Skills Alliance", "Thiemann, H. & Dudley, J.", "2021", "Women in the UK space sector", "https://spaceskills.org/census-women#do-women-feel-welcome-in-the-space-sector", ""] Ref2: ["Royal Astronomical Society", "Royal Astronomical Society", "2021", "Survey finds bullying and harassment systemic in astronomy and geophysics", "https://ras.ac.uk/news-and-press/news/survey-finds-bullying-and-harassment-systemic-astronomy-and-geophysics", ""]
People study skills that there is low demand for
Most people wanting to get into the space sector choose to study physics and aerospace engineering as these are the subjects most obviously connected to space. This is despite shortages in software skills in the sector.
What evidence do we have?
The 2020 Space Census found that degrees in physics and aerospace engineering are the most common routes into the sector,[1] but the Space Sector Skills Survey 2023 found that software and electrical engineering skills are in much higher demand than aero/mechanical engineering skills.[2] Ref1: ["Space Skills Alliance", "Dudley, J. & Thiemann, H.", "2023", "How and why people join the UK space sector", "https://spaceskills.org/census-routes#physics-and-engineering-are-by-far-the-most-common", ""] Ref2: ["Space Skills Alliance", "Thiemann, H. & Dudley, J.", "2023", "Space Sector Skills Survey 2023 results", "https://spaceskills.org/space-sector-skills-survey#skills-gaps-in-the-current-space-workforce", ""]
Poor routes for juniors to gain experience
There is a lack of routes for young professionals to quickly and effectively gain the experience that the space sector needs.
What evidence do we have?
We have little evidence for this problem but can infer it from other data. For example, the Space Sector Skills Survey 2020 found that companies received lots of applicants for graduate schemes, internships, and junior roles,[1] but it is harder to recruit for mid-career roles. This suggests there is a poor pipeline of progression from junior to senior roles. Ref1: ["UK Space Agency", "BMG", "2021", "Space Sector Skills Survey 2020", "https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/964639/BMG_2081_UKSA_Space_Sector_Skills_Survey_2020_Report_V1.pdf", "p50"]
Outreach and careers information focuses on astronauts and rocket scientists
Space outreach and careers information focuses on astronauts and rocket scientists, incorrectly giving the impression that these are the most common or most important jobs within the sector.
What evidence do we have?
There is little diversity in the type of space jobs that are highlighted through outreach and careers resources,[1] and astronauts and rockets are commonly used. For example, in 2023, UKSA's Space for Everyone tour across the UK intended to 'excite the next generation about career possibilities within the growing space sector' a 72ft replica rocket as its centrepiece and prominently featured volunteers in astronaut costumes. Computing skills are in high demand in the space sector, but rarely feature in space outreach and careers information. The UK Space Agency’s Principia campaign, which is estimated to have impacted at least 1.6 million young people between 2014 and 2017, featured 34 projects, of which just 5 focused on coding or computing.[2] Ref1: ["Geoscience Communication", "Archer, M., et al.", "2022", "GC Insights: Space sector careers resources need a greater diversity of roles", "https://d-nb.info/1250420547/34", ""] Ref2: ["UK Space Agency", "UK Space Agency", "2018", "Impact Assessment: UK Space Agency Principia Campaign", "https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/764882/Impact_Assessment_Principia_Campaign.pdf", "p16"]
Space sector salaries are not competitive
The space sector pays less than other STEM sectors for similar roles.
What evidence do we have?
The 2020 Space Census found that less than 1% of people in the space workforce joined for the pay, and found that the space sector pays about £10k less than the tech sector in most roles. [1] The Space Sector Skills Survey 2023 found that uncompetitive pay is the second biggest issue in recruitment, cited by 39% of respondents who recruited in the last 12 months. [2] Ref1: ["Dudley, J. & Thiemann, H. (2021)", "Dudley, J. & Thiemann, H.", "2021", "Pay in the UK space sector", "https://spaceskills.org/census-pay", ""] Ref2: ["Space Skills Alliance", "Thiemann, H. & Dudley, J.", "2023", "Space Sector Skills Survey 2023 results", "https://spaceskills.org/space-sector-skills-survey#reasons-for-recruitment-difficulties", ""]
The process of recruiting is difficult
The process of recruiting can be difficult and time consuming, especially for smaller companies that may not have a dedicated HR team. Employers often face challenges including competition, difficulties attracting applications to their location, or a lack of applicants.
What evidence do we have?
The Space Sector Skills Survey 2023 found that of the 62% of respondents who recruited in the last 12 months, 80% faced recruitment difficulties, up from 61% in 2020. [1] Ref1: ["Space Skills Alliance", "Thiemann, H. & Dudley, J.", "2023", "Space Sector Skills Survey 2023 results", "https://spaceskills.org/space-sector-skills-survey#recruitment-difficulties", ""]
The space sector does a poor job of promoting itself
The UK space sector does a poor job of promoting itself, and has no joined up public relations strategy.
What evidence do we have?
The evidence for this is seen in the public's poor understanding of what the space sector actually is and the impacts of space on their daily lives. A report by Inmarsat report [1] found that 21% of people associate space with ‘aliens’, 14% with ‘science fiction’ and 10% with ‘Star Wars’ – compared with just 8% for ‘communications & connectivity’ and 3% for ‘broadcasting & television’. This is particularly a problem for the UK space sector because almost all realistic fictional depictions of space focus on NASA. A 2006 study of British school children aged 13-15 found that 77% could name NASA as a space research organisation, but less than 0.5% could name ESA (about the same as the number who suggested _Men in Black_).[2] NASA-branded clothing is also available from a wide range of high-street retailers, while ESA and UKSA-branded clothing is not. Ref1: ["Inmarsat", "Inmarsat", "2022", "What on Earth is the value of space?", "https://www.inmarsat.com/en/insights/corporate/2022/value-of-space.html", "p12"] Ref2: ["Space Policy", "Jones. H., et al.", "2007", "A pilot survey of attitudes to space sciences and exploration among British school children", "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spacepol.2006.11.013", ""]
Working conditions / company culture are unattractive
Many people working in the space sector have experienced some form of bullying or harassment, or have a poor work-life balance.
What evidence do we have?
The 2020 Space Census found that 41% of women and 10% of men in the space sector had experienced discrimination,[1] and that 14% of people had a 'bad' or 'terrible' work-life balance. Ref1: ["Space Skills Alliance", "Thiemann, H. & Dudley, J.", "2021", "Women in the UK space sector", "https://spaceskills.org/census-women#do-women-feel-welcome-in-the-space-sector", ""]
Application processes deter people
The process of applying for some jobs is difficult, irritating, or time consuming, leading some people to abandon the job application process.
What evidence do we have?
At the moment we only have anecdotal evidence about this problem.
Application systems are difficult or annoying to use
Job application systems can be difficult and annoying to use. For example, applicants may have to input the same information multiple times.
What evidence do we have?
There is a lot of evidence from outside the space sector that this is a problem. For example, the What Workers Want Report 2018 found that 71% of applicants abandon their application if it takes longer than 15 minutes.[1] Ref1: ["Hays", "Hays", "2018", "What Workers Want Report 2018", "https://cloud.email.hays.com/www-dac-2018", "p3"]
Courses don't adapt quickly enough
Courses don't adapt quickly enough to changing industry needs, so can end up containing outdated content and may not match current industry needs.
What evidence do we have?
At the moment we only have anecdotal evidence about this problem.
Demand for training is unclear
Training providers find it difficult to assess the demand of training, especially in niche areas. This makes it hard for them to put together a business case for providing training.
What evidence do we have?
The Space Sector Skills Survey 2023[1] provides an indication of the skills gaps, many of which can be filled by training. However we do not have good figures on how many people require training. Ref1: ["Space Skills Alliance", "Thiemann, H. & Dudley, J.", "2023", "Space Sector Skills Survey 2023 results", "https://spaceskills.org/space-sector-skills-survey", ""]
Employers won't recruit from non-traditional pathways
Some employers are reluctant to recruit candidates who have taken a non-traditional career path into space, such as not having a degree or switching from another sector.
What evidence do we have?
We mostly have anecdotal evidence, however the space sector has more degree holder than any other sector.[1] The Space Sector Skills Survey 2020 also found that "many businesses in the sector are hesitant to hire those without direct experience in the space industry".[2] Ref1: ["UK Space Agency", "know.space", "2023", "Size and Health of the UK Space Industry 2022", "https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-size-and-health-of-the-uk-space-industry-2022", "p17"] Ref2: ["UK Space Agency", "BMG", "2021", "Space Sector Skills Survey 2020", "https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/964639/BMG_2081_UKSA_Space_Sector_Skills_Survey_2020_Report_V1.pdf", "p58"]
Job requirements are incompatible with a disability
Some jobs have requirements that mean people with certain disabilities cannot apply. For example, a wheelchair user would not be able to do some manufacturing roles.
What evidence do we have?
The 2020 Space Census found that 8% of people in the sector have a disability, compared to 13% of the wider UK workforce.[1] This suggests that there are barriers which have stopped people with a disability being able to access employment in the space sector. Ref1: ["Space Skills Alliance", "Dudley, J. & Thiemann, H.", "2021", "Demographics of the UK space sector", "https://spaceskills.org/census-demographics#disability", ""]
Jobs are not widely advertised
Space companies sometimes only advertise on space-specific jobs boards, limiting the number of people who are aware that space jobs exist.
What evidence do we have?
At the moment we only have anecdotal evidence about this problem.
Lack of progression opportunities / job security
Some jobs lack job security, which makes them less attractive to those looking for stability for themselves and their families, or lack progression opportunities, which make them less attractive for junior professionals looking to build a career.
What evidence do we have?
The evidence that we have on this topic is primarily related to progression opportunities and their impact on retention. The 2020 Space Census found that 30% of space professionals were not happy with the amount of professional development opportunities they had, and were more likely to be wanting to change jobs. The Space Sector Skills Survey 2023 found that among organisations with retention difficulties, 34% said it was due to a lack of development opportunities. [1] Ref1: ["Space Skills Alliance", "Thiemann, H. & Dudley, J.", "2023", "Space Sector Skills Survey 2023 results", "https://spaceskills.org/space-sector-skills-survey#reasons-for-poor-retention", ""]
Location is unattractive
People don't want to live or work in certain parts of the country.
What evidence do we have?
The Space Sector Skills Survey 2023 found that of the 62% of respondents who recruited in the last 12 months, 30% said that it was difficult to attract people to their location. [1] [1]: ["Space Skills Alliance", "Thiemann, H. & Dudley, J.", "2023", "Space Sector Skills Survey 2023 results", "https://spaceskills.org/space-sector-skills-survey#reasons-for-recruitment-difficulties", ""]
People don't think they're good enough for the space sector
People don't think they're good enough to work in the space sector.
What evidence do we have?
A lot of the evidence we have for this problem is based on reports of whether children believe they can work in the space sector in the future. Young people, especially young women, think that they are not ‘clever enough’ to study science, particularly physics,[1] and this perception is even stronger for space science and technology jobs. [2] These perceptions are reinforced by space job adverts which ask for "the best".[3] Ref1: ["UCL Institute of Education", "Arche et al.", "2020", "ASPIRES 2: Young people’s science and career aspirations, age 10-19", "https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10092041/15/Moote_9538%20UCL%20Aspires%202%20report%20full%20online%20version.pdf", "p25"] Ref2: ["University of York", "Bennet et al.", "2016", "The impact of human spaceflight on young people’s attitudes to STEM subjects", "https://www.york.ac.uk/media/educationalstudies/documents/research/uyseg/RISES%20-%20Final%20Report.pdf", "p5"] Ref3: ["Space Skills Alliance", "Dudley, J. & Thiemann, H.", "2021", "Assessing the quality of space job adverts", "https://spaceskills.org/job-advert-quality#company-background", ""]
Person specification is unreasonable or unrealistic
Person specifications sometimes contain unreasonable or unnecessary expectations.
What evidence do we have?
An assessment of 50 space job adverts found that person specifications scored an average of 7 out of 10.[1] Many jobs, for example, expect applicants for entry-level roles to already have experience, or for applicants to have a broader range of knowledge than could reasonably expected of a single individual. Ref1: ["Space Skills Alliance", "Dudley, J. & Thiemann, H.", "2021", "Assessing the quality of space job adverts", "https://spaceskills.org/job-advert-quality", ""]
Skills needs are changing quickly
The space sector is evolving rapidly and the pace of technological change means that it is hard to predict what skills will be needed in the future.
What evidence do we have?
The Space Sector Skills Survey 2023 found that among companies that reported skills gaps, the most cited skill area was AI & machine learning,[1] a field that has only recently become mature enough to be used commercially. Similarly there have been significant recent advances in the use of small satellites and reusable rockets, and in the resolution and availability of Earth observation data. Ref1: ["Space Skills Alliance", "Thiemann, H. & Dudley, J.", "2023", "Space Sector Skills Survey 2023 results", "https://spaceskills.org/space-sector-skills-survey#skills-gaps-in-the-current-space-workforce", ""]
Stereotypes give people false impressions
Stereotypes about STEM jobs and the space sector give people the wrong impression of what a space job is like and whether they could work in the sector.
What evidence do we have?
Space is associated strongly with intelligence – ‘rocket scientist’ is used as a common informal term for an exceptionally intelligent person.
The UK isn't attractive to people from abroad
Space professionals in other countries sometimes do not want to come and work in the UK.
What evidence do we have?
The Space Sector Skills Survey 2023 found that of the 36% of companies that recruited from abroad, 42% found it was hard to attract applicants to the UK.[1] Ref1: ["Space Skills Alliance", "Thiemann, H. & Dudley, J.", "2023", "Space Sector Skills Survey 2023 results", "https://spaceskills.org/space-sector-skills-survey#recruiting-from-abroad", ""]
Training is not financially viable
Providing training for niche space-specific skills is not financially viable when it requires a lot of preparation and there is not a critical mass of demand. This is especially a problem for training that must happen in person and requires travelling and/or venue hire.
What evidence do we have?
We have anecdotal evidence from training providers who struggle to provide niche training to small numbers of people.
Employers don't offer remote working
Some employers don't offer remote or hybrid working. In some cases, such as for those doing manufacturing, work has to be done on site, but for others it is a choice which puts some candidates off.
What evidence do we have?
Remote working is attractive to working parents,[1] people with certain disabilities, and others who especially value the extra flexibility, so not offering it deters these groups from applying. Ref1: ["Government Equalities Office", "Government Equalities Office", "2019", "Employment Pathways and Occupation Change After Childbirth", "https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/840848/Bristol_Summary_Report.pdf", ""]
Employers offer short contracts
Employers offer short-term contracts which many people, especially experienced professionals, find less attractive.
What evidence do we have?
At the moment we mostly have anecdotal evidence about this problem.
Government offers short contracts
Government contracts are often short term, which makes it harder for companies to plan long term, give job security to their employees, and invest in training.
What evidence do we have?
At the moment we only have anecdotal evidence about this problem.
Housing costs are high and transport infrastructure is poor
The space sector is primarily located in high cost-of-living areas (London, Oxfordshire, the South East, M4 corridor) and areas with poor connectivity to the rest of the country (Cornwall, Scotland).
What evidence do we have?
There is a lot of evidence from outside the space sector that this is a problem, with house prices in the South East being very high, and widespread recognition of the need for 'levelling up' in other parts of the country. There is limited direct evidence in the space sector, but respondents interviewed for the Space Sector Skills Survey 2023 noted that "Anyone trying to come into Cornwall really struggles due to the housing crisis down here" and "There’s a dearth of RF capability in the north... everyone who has RF experience is based in the south." [1] Ref1: ["Space Skills Alliance", "Thiemann, H. & Dudley, J.", "2023", "Space Sector Skills Survey 2023 results", "https://spaceskills.org/space-sector-skills-survey", ""]
Immigration paperwork is complex
Immigration paperwork is complex. This can make it difficult and time consuming for employers to complete.
What evidence do we have?
The Space Sector Skills Survey 2023 found that among the 36% of organisations who tried to recruit from abroad, 47% of these struggled with the complexity of immigration-related paperwork.[1] Ref1: ["Space Skills Alliance", "Thiemann, H. & Dudley, J.", "2023", "Space Sector Skills Survey 2023 results", "https://spaceskills.org/space-sector-skills-survey#recruiting-from-abroad", ""]
Immigration process takes a long time
The process of applying and being accepted for a visa takes a long time.
What evidence do we have?
The Space Sector Skills Survey 2023 found that among the 36% of organisations who tried to recruit from abroad, 42% of these struggled with the time it took to do immigration-related paperwork. [1] Ref1: ["Space Skills Alliance", "Thiemann, H. & Dudley, J.", "2023", "Space Sector Skills Survey 2023 results", "https://spaceskills.org/space-sector-skills-survey#recruiting-from-abroad", ""]
It's hard to recruit from abroad
Employers attempting to recruit people from abroad face barriers such as high costs, lengthy lead times, and complex paperwork. Many are not successful as a result.
What evidence do we have?
The Space Sector Skills Survey 2023 found that 21% of companies recruiting from abroad were not successful, and 83% faced some type of barrier to recruitment.[1] Ref1: ["Space Skills Alliance", "Thiemann, H. & Dudley, J.", "2023", "Space Sector Skills Survey 2023 results", "https://spaceskills.org/space-sector-skills-survey#recruiting-from-abroad", ""]
It's hard to transfer into space from other sectors
It is difficult to transfer into the space sector from other sectors, either directly by applying for a job in the sector, or though formal conversion courses.
What evidence do we have?
Very few programmes exist to support people with transferring or converting from other sectors into space.
Job doesn't appear to be interesting
Some jobs are presented in a way that makes them sound boring, deterring people from applying.
What evidence do we have?
An assessment of 50 space job adverts found that the median space job advert scored 7 out of 10 on providing a clear summary of the role, and struggled to make the role sound interesting or attractive.[1] Ref1: ["Space Skills Alliance", "Dudley, J. & Thiemann, H.", "2021", "Assessing the quality of space job adverts", "https://spaceskills.org/job-advert-quality#job-description", ""]
Job has nationality / residence restrictions
Some jobs in the space sector are only open to UK citizens because they relate to matters of national security.
What evidence do we have?
At the moment we only have anecdotal evidence about this problem.
Job requires security clearance
Some jobs in the space sector require security clearance. This immediately excludes some people from applying and can also add delays and costs.
What evidence do we have?
Anecdotal evidence from employers highlights that they experience delays in getting someone security clearance, and that once they have security clearance, they are in high demand so may be poached by other companies.
People don't want to apply for space jobs
Some people don't want to apply for space jobs not because of the jobs but specifically because they are in the space sector.
What evidence do we have?
We have limited direct evidence for this problem in the space sector, and much of it is anecdotal. A report from Inmarsat found that only 7% of UK respondents want to work in the space industry, compared to 14% globally. [1] Ref1: ["Inmarsat", "Inmarsat", "2022", "People unaware and concerned when it comes to space, finds landmark report", "https://www.inmarsat.com/en/news/latest-news/corporate/2022/people-unaware-concerned-space-landmark-report.html", ""]
People need to bring their family with them when moving
Many experienced professionals have a partner or a family, and moving to a new location often means needing to find work for their partner and a school for their children.
What evidence do we have?
At the moment we only have anecdotal evidence about this problem.
Skills needs are not clearly communicated
Sometimes skills needs are not clearly communicated. For example, some job adverts do not make it clear what skills a role requires, and employers and applicants can have different understandings of the same terminology, particularly if the applicant is from a different sector.
What evidence do we have?
An assessment of 50 space job adverts against a range of best practices found that the median space job advert scored 7 out of 10 on providing a clear and concise summary of a person specification.[1] Ref1: ["Space Skills Alliance", "Dudley, J. & Thiemann, H.", "2021", "Assessing the quality of space job adverts", "https://spaceskills.org/job-advert-quality#person-specification", ""]
Space career pathways aren't clear
Career pathways in the space sector aren't clear, both for new joiners and those already in the sector looking to progress.
What evidence do we have?
Most career resources are aimed at young people rather than career changers or mid-career professionals, and typically talk about a single job rather than a whole career.
Space is associated with pollution
Space is associated with rocket launches and concern is being raised about the emissions these produce.
What evidence do we have?
Many people, especially young people, want to work in environmentally friendly sectors [1] and there have been protests against rocket launches in the UK on environmental grounds.[2] Ref1: ["EngineeringUK", "EngineeringUK", "2017", "Young people demand jobs that make a difference", "https://www.engineeringuk.com/news-views/young-people-demand-jobs-that-make-a-difference/", ""] Ref2: ["Al Jazeera", "Adkins, F.", "2022", "The battle over space emissions in Cornwall", "https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2022/10/23/the-battle-over-space-emissions-in-cornwall", ""]
Space jobs aren’t well known
Even among those who are aware that the UK has a space sector, knowledge of the kinds of jobs the sector offers, and the skills that are in demand, is low.
What evidence do we have?
A global survey of 20,000 people by Inmarsat found that while almost every respondent knew about NASA, 25% didn't know what NASA does.[1] The roles most closely associated with the space sector are those that uniquely involve space like astronaut, astronomer, rocket scientist. When children aged 8-12 were asked ‘which … careers are part of space exploration?’ Astronaut was the most chosen answer (90%), followed by Engineer (58%) and Computer Programmer (52%).[2] Ref1: ["Inmarsat", "Inmarsat", "2022", "What on Earth is the value of space?", "https://www.inmarsat.com/en/insights/corporate/2022/value-of-space.html", "p44"] Ref2: ["LEGO", "LEGO", "2019", "The LEGO Group kicks off global program to inspire the next generation of space explorers as NASA celebrates 50 years of moon landing", "https://www.lego.com/en-in/aboutus/news/2019/july/lego-group-kicks-off-global-program-to-inspire-the-next-generation-of-space-explorers-as-nasa-celebrates-50-years-of-moon-landing/", ""]
Space sector isn't known as an employer
Members of the public are often surprised to know that the UK has a space sector and that it offers a wide range of career paths. This means they are unlikely to apply for jobs in the sector, or to encourage their friends and family to look at the sector as a potential career path.
What evidence do we have?
At the moment we primarily have anecdotal evidence that this is a problem from people in the sector who do outreach.
Training is expensive
The cost of training courses can range into the thousands per person, beyond what most individuals and small companies can afford.
What evidence do we have?
The Space Sector Skills Survey 2023 found that among companies who struggled to provide training, 36% said that training was too expensive. [1] We have anecdotal evidence that this problem also affects individuals whose training is not sponsored by their employer. Ref1:["Space Skills Alliance", "Thiemann, H. & Dudley, J.", "2023", "Space Sector Skills Survey 2023 results", "https://spaceskills.org/space-sector-skills-survey#barriers-to-training", ""]
Training isn't available
For some skills, there is little or no training available, so people must rely on gaining experience on the job. This typically takes longer and costs more than training, making it difficult to increase the pool of skilled people to meet demand.
What evidence do we have?
The Space Sector Skills Survey 2023 found that 20% of space organisations were unable to find appropriate training anywhere. [1] Ref1: ["Space Skills Alliance", "Thiemann, H. & Dudley, J.", "2023", "Space Sector Skills Survey 2023 results", "https://spaceskills.org/space-sector-skills-survey#barriers-to-training", ""]
Visa process is expensive
The process of sponsoring a visa and completing other related paperwork can be prohibitively expensive for an employer.
What evidence do we have?
The Space Sector Skills Survey 2023 found that among the 36% of organisations who tried to recruit from abroad, 58% of these struggled with the cost of the visa process.[1] Ref1: ["Space Skills Alliance", "Thiemann, H. & Dudley, J.", "2023", "Space Sector Skills Survey 2023 results", "https://spaceskills.org/space-sector-skills-survey#recruiting-from-abroad", ""]
Space is associated with billionaires
People associate space with billionaires such as Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Richard Branson.
What evidence do we have?
Space is sometimes described as a playground for billionaires,[1] and a report by the Cornwall Space Cluster found that 20% of people think that the "data and space sector is only a playground for the rich and famous and that Cornwall should have nothing to do with".[2] A report by Inmarsat found that younger people (18-24) are more likely to link billionaires with space than older people (55-64).[3] Ref1: ["Scientific American", "Moskowitz, C.", "2022", "Billionaire Space Tourism Has Become Insufferable", "https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/billionaire-space-tourism-has-become-insufferable/", ""] Ref2: ["Cornwall Space Cluster", "PFA Research", "2022", "Cornwall Space Sector Profiling Report", "", ""] Ref3: ["Inmarsat", "Inmarsat", "2022", "What on Earth is the value of space?", "https://www.inmarsat.com/en/insights/corporate/2022/value-of-space.html", "p15"]
People are excluded from applying
Some people are excluded or discouraged from applying to certain jobs. These may be necessary barriers related to job requirements, or arbitrary barriers set by employers.
What evidence do we have?
At the moment we only have anecdotal evidence about this problem at this level, but we do have evidence for some of the issues that feed into this one.
People don't feel they can apply
Although people have the right skills and qualifications, they may not feel that they can apply for a job.
What evidence do we have?
At the moment we only have anecdotal evidence about this problem at this level, but we do have evidence for some of the issues that feed into this one.
People don't know how to apply / get into the space sector
Some people struggle to get into the space sector and apply to roles because they lack a network, don't know space jargon, or don't know how to translate their skills from another sector to a space context.
What evidence do we have?
At the moment we only have anecdotal evidence about this problem at this level, but we do have evidence for some of the issues that feed into this one.
People don't know the jobs exist
People are not aware that certain jobs exist and are things they could apply for.
What evidence do we have?
At the moment we only have anecdotal evidence about this problem at this level, but we do have evidence for some of the issues that feed into this one.
People don't want to apply
People don't want to apply to a specific job because it does not appeal to them.
What evidence do we have?
At the moment we only have anecdotal evidence about this problem at this level, but we do have evidence for some of the issues that feed into this one.
There is a shortage of people with the right skills
For certain skills, particularly ones that are very specific to the space sector, there simply aren't enough skilled people in the UK workforce to meet the sector's needs.
What evidence do we have?
We have limited direct evidence for this problem in the space sector, and much of it is anecdotal. However, there is lots of evidence that this is a problem in the wider STEM sector particularly for software-related jobs.[1] Ref1: ["UK Parliament", "Science and Technology Committee (Lords)", "2022", "Action needed across Government to secure a high-skilled STEM workforce for the UK", "https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/193/science-and-technology-committee-lords/news/175105/action-needed-across-government-to-secure-a-highskilled-stem-workforce-for-the-uk/", ""]